Коротка історія довгої війни

by Mariam Naiem, Маріам Найем, Yulia Vus (Illustrator)

Це мальопис про нашу довгу війну з росією. За роки повномасштабної війни з’явилося чимало історій, зокрема графічних, де про нашу війну говорять іноземці. Але в цій війні живемо ми. І нам було важливо розповісти про неї самим. Щоб і ми, й іноземці побачили її нашими очима, про те, як ми її відчуваємо.

Перед вами — нагадування про те, що з історичної точки зору, війни ніколи не бувають простими історіями, але з особистої точки зору, це просте питання — житиму я чи ні? Історичний контекст російсько-української війни, від Середньовіччя до сучасної України підкреслює тривалу природу конфлікту, його політичне коріння та паралелі в часі.
І звісно цей мальопис про наше життя зараз, бо за кожним конфліктом стоять реальні люди з реальними історіями, назавжди зміненими хаосом війни.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, War, Comics, Ukraine, Graphic Novels Comics

104 pages, Hardcover

First published February 12, 2025

Reviews

[Ярослава]

Комікс-коротке пояснення спроб Росії знищити Україну - від заборон української мови до Голодомору й нинішнього етапу війни + пояснення якихось реалій нашого сучасного життя (штибу існування комендантської години). Українці (крім, можливо, дуже юних українців) навряд чи дізнаються тут щось нове, бо це дуже стислий виклад вікіпедійного рівня - але можуть насолоджуватися прекрасним малюнком, Юлія Вус і Іван Кипібіда дивовижний мальописний дует! Натомість це прекрасний подарунок для тих ваших друзів-іноземців, які не стежать за новинами, якщо особисто у вас у цей момент уже немає сил пояснювати все спочатку і показувати всі свої болючі емоції. Книжка вже вийшла англійською, куплені права на ще скількись європейських мов, тож завдяки ній багато українців зможуть заощадити собі нерви, не вдаючись у зайві пояснення самотужки!
Отут у твіттері я англійською пояснювала, чим ця книжка класна, з ілюстраціями якраз з англомовного видання.

[verbava · Rating 3 out of 5]

«коротка історія довгої війни» наводить правило двох стін, розповідає про бомбосховища й дуже базово пояснює про русь, знищення січі, заборони української мови, розстріляне відродження, голодомор, отруєння ющенка й революцію гідності. основний raison d’être цієї книжки — бути першим знайомством із контекстами цієї війни для іноземців, і я дуже сподіваюся, що в перекладах вона читабельна. українські ж тексти, на жаль, написані зубодробильним канцеляритом (який теж насправді наслідок спроб як не знищити, то скалічити нашу мову, хоча ми про нього рідко думаємо в цьому контексті). зате мальовка гарна, можна просто роздивлятися мальовку.

[Ірина Білоусова · Rating 5 out of 5]

Просто хочеться вручити цей мальопис усім іноземцям. Ця книжка не для українців, ми це все знаємо, але однаково вона чудово і доступно написана і проілюстрована. Дякую Маріам Найем та Юлії Вус за цю роботу!

[Maria]

Мальовка красива, тема важлива, а от у змісті нюансів трохи забракло

[Relena_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a day to finish this book, a book saturated in the iconic Orange of Ukraine's resistance movements, as the US's orange coward suggests ceding parts of the Donbas that Russia would need four years to even hope to control. This book was written while the whole West still stood with Ukraine--a short time ago that feels like a long time indeed--but its message of stalwart resistance to oppression still rings true.

The intersection of the current conflict and the historical underpinnings it rests upon are complemented in this work by evocative artwork that enlivens both. The Russian propagandist shouting from inside a drowning matryoshka was just one of many beautiful metaphors. Each page is a fully encapsulated work of art, with each panel purposefully placed and intersecting with a larger backdrop. The only downside to this eaxh-page-as-tableau stype is that when viewed as full two-page spreads, the art is sometimes less connected.

Even if you, like me, have read Snyder's "Road to Unfreedom" twice, there will still be something new here, even if it's simply renewed hope for this embattled country in a time when it very much needs outside support.

Many, many thanks to NetGalley for this eARC.

[Ville · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hieno tiivistelmä Ukrainan historiasta. Tietenkin hyvin suppea sellainen, pääaiheena kuitenkin on nykyinen sota, mutta avasi tämä kuitenkin vähän taustoja. Kertomuksellinen narratiivi tuntui vähän naiivilta ja päälleliimatulta, mutta se oli kyllä niin vähäisessä osassa ettei haitannut menoa - ja ehkä se lopulta myös oli tärkeä lisä tarinaan. Kuvitus oli näyttävää, pidin etenkin värimaailmasta ja kuinka sillä onnistuttiin luomaan tunnelmaa.

[Liliia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Дуже гарна книга, не можливо стримати сліз проглядаючи історію. Мальопис показує яка тяжка доля випала українському народові і які сміливі і круті люди виплекалися в цьому полум'ї. Дуже прикро за кілька одруків які є в книзі, сподіваюсь їх виправлять в наступному накладі, бо цю книгу хотілося б дарувати всім та поширювати за кордоном. Неймовірна робота Маріам щоб виокремити важливе, надихнути але і не ідеалізувати чи перебільшувати. Гарні ілюстрації, все дуже доречно.

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received an advance review copy of A Brief History of a Long War from Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press | Ten Speed Graphic via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Trigger Warnings: war violence, genocide, famine, civilian deaths, air raids

In 2023, my husband and I traveled to Bosnia, visiting many war sites and memorials. The experience left me shaken by both the resiliency of the people and the cruelty of those who commit and deny genocide. When I opened A Brief History of a Long War, Mariam Naiem’s depiction of Ukrainians crouching behind two walls to protect themselves from air raids brought me right back to that visceral reality. This beautifully illustrated graphic history is both heartbreaking and vital, a reminder that stories of survival and resistance deserve to be seen, studied, and remembered.

Naiem presents centuries of Ukrainian struggle with a straightforward and accessible voice that connects on both intellectual and emotional levels. The historical scope is impressive, covering linguistic persecution, the Holodomor, and today’s invasion, yet the structure keeps the focus personal and humane. The art by Yulia Vus and Ivan Kypibida is exceptional, with color choices that heighten the mood, haunting juxtapositions of history and present-day devastation, and striking symbolism that stays with you. While some font sizes were difficult to read, it was a small concern in an otherwise extraordinary work.

This graphic novel stands alongside Maus and Persepolis as a crucial visual study of oppression, identity, and endurance. It is a powerful short introduction to the conflict, enough to spark curiosity, outrage, and compassion in equal measure. I have already preordered the hardcover, and I cannot recommend it enough to anyone interested in nonfiction graphic storytelling or modern history.

[Kellen Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Brief History of a Long War is a powerful and visually stunning introduction to Ukraine’s centuries-long struggle against Russian domination. Mariam Naiem weaves historical clarity with emotional depth, guiding readers from medieval roots to the current war with remarkable precision and compassion. The illustrations by Yulia Vus and Ivan Kypibida enrich the narrative, offering a vivid and humanizing lens on moments of resilience, loss, and cultural survival. It’s a book that explains not only the facts of history but the lived experience behind them.

As a teacher, I found this graphic history especially valuable. Its accessible storytelling and striking artwork make complex geopolitical issues understandable for high school students, while also giving them the opportunity to hear directly from Ukrainian perspectives—voices that are too often overlooked. I would gladly use this book in class to spark meaningful conversations about identity, resistance, and the long shadow of imperialism. It’s engaging, informative, and deeply affecting—a resource I highly recommend!

A copy of this book was kindly provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Alexis Berman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for my Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.

I don't want to say I enjoyed this book, because the war between Ukraine and Russia is anything but enjoyable, but I would recommend this book. Done in black and white and orange ( I am assuming as a nod to the Orange Revolution), this book covers the relationship between Ukraine and Russia going back to the 1920s. This is a great book for anyone who wants to know more about the contentious relationship between two countries, one trying to keep their autonomy and the other going for domination.

[anna bobrovitska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Це хороша книга для іноземців, а ще дуже гарна. Але ті, хто живуть в контексті, не дуже дізнаються щось нове.

Також мене засмутили аспекти, які я помічала щодо жінок:
- серед розстріляного відродження не було названо жодної
- в подяці дякують тільки захисникам
- є коментарі від чоловіків в ЗСУ, але не від жінок

Мої очі за таке чіпляються і відчувається дивно. Особливо з тим, що моя мама в лавах ЗСУ вже 10 років.

Тг: Пісюлькі від Ані

[Kate Dots]

Готуюся, скажімо, писати есей про взаємовплив індивідуальності та ідеології, тож залишу кілька міркувань, які, може, будуть цікаві комусь, крім мене.

Ігнорувати політичний контекст - теж політичний вибір, коріння якого може бути отруйним, бо залежить від глибини самоусвідомлення та розуміння історичних процесів і тонких маніпуляцій (тонкість яких часто забезпечена недвозначним вливанням мільярдів грошей (і з не менш прямолінійною метою), про які справжні митці не люблять говорити (сумна іронія в тому, що це переважно справді так), тому вони часто залишаються невидимими), що впливають і на смак, і на формування того, що називають індивідуальністю. Урешті-решт усе зводиться до того, яку ідеологію захищати, усвідомлено чи ні, а сила особистості може вимірюватися глибиною самоусвідомлення і тим, чим людина ризикує заради свого вибору, або радше виборів, і деякі можуть збігатися з мейнстримом, а деякі - ні, і сам цей збіг не заперечує і не підтверджує автентичність, правильність, глибину і т. п.

Ну і щоб моя внутрішня естетка не змерзла від похолодань, які обіцяють з наступного тижня, підкину дрів для дружніх міркувань з допису на фейсбуці знайомого філософа V. Chorniy, що написав його ще 24 лютого 2022:

Fundamental political beliefs should be the least complex and interesting aspect of ourselves. They are crude, straightforward, unequivocal, and, therefore, massively dividing. That said, once accepted, they are relatively immune to revision and serve as a prerequisite for any meaningful discussion. Rather than lacking nuance or context, they simply do not require any.

In the early hours of February 24th 2022, Russia launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine. There are no “sides” to it. You can either endorse a foreign invasion of a sovereign country or condemn it. It is not that complicated.

[Severyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Як на мене формат коміксу ідеальний, щоб передати читачеві важкі теми зрозумілою мовою та швидко ввести в курс складної теми, тому "Коротка історія довгої війни" чудово справляється з цим завданням.

[Kateryna Venedchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Це дуже важливий мальопис, назва якого, власне, повністю його описує. Тішуся, що його вже перекладають і видають багато де закордоном, щоби люди ззовні нашої бульбашки мали більше уявлення про передумови того жаху, у якому ми зараз живемо; про те, що це не війна одного божевільного диктатора, а послідовна політика нищення українців. Та що тут лукавити, для багатьох українців цей невеликий комікс теж може трошки відкрити очі чи допомогти впорядкувати деякі факти й події в голові. Події сьогодення вміло переплетені з історичними подіями, збіса гарні ілюстрації, влучні тексти, навіть великодка у вигляді двох відомих кумів 😅
Якщо в мене колись будуть діти, то обовʼязково лишу для них цю історію в особистій бібліотеці 🧡

[Iryna B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and hits all of the main points of Ukrainian history. It is a great gift for anyone interested to start learning more about Ukrainian history. illustrations are beautiful, detailed and cohesive. I will probably be buying additional copies to gift to friends.

[Kayla Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly a brief history of a long war. I think that this will serve as an excellent starting point for people to understand the excruciatingly long history of attempts to erase Ukrainian people and their history and their culture. This covers a lot of the bigger movements like the Holodomor, the Orange Revolution, and the Revolution of Dignity which give a good overview of the Ukrainian resistance and the political violence that has been waged against the people. I also liked how this covers the multitude of ways in which erasure is happening through not only physical violence and genocide but also through invalidating and making illegal Ukrainian culture and language and livelihood.

This graphic novel also showcases the lasting impacts of this continued violence towards Ukrainian people. As a Ukrainian, I know those impacts like the back of my hand. For example, the book covers how deeply ingrained the notion of clearing your plate is in Ukrainian households because family members who survived the Holodomor have passed on the idea that food is a scarcity, a privilege instead of a right - and not to be wasted. Also, the push to reclaim the Ukrainian language which has seen an even greater increase in the last few years with this most recent acceleration of war activity by Russia. We see families prioritizing speaking in Ukrainian, at home and outside, to both relearn themselves and also keep the language from being erased as Russia pushes so hard to do. I see this in my own home as my mom and I have made a more conscious effort to speak Ukrainian at home with one another.

I, personally, did already know a lot of the information that is shared in this book. It is, after all, my history and my heritage. But, as the title proclaims - this is just a brief history of the war and I think that it will be an excellent stepping stone for those who are unfamiliar with just how deep and long lasting this war has been. On a side note, I truly loved the art style and the coloring choice for this graphic novel. It is primarily black and white and neutral tones with the only splash of color being a vibrant and bold orange which is a call to the Orange Revolution and the underlying revolutionary symbolism that color holds for the country. I would highly recommend everyone and anyone pick this up for a quick little education on the war and genocide that has, and continues, to take place in Ukraine.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.

Content Warning: war, genocide, starvation

[Anne Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mariam Naiem’s A Brief History of a Long War is not simply a timeline; it is a visual argument for the enduring, contested identity of Ukraine. Presented as a graphic novel, this work achieves something rare for modern conflict analysis: it delivers centuries of dense, painful history with the immediacy of lived experience and the stunning clarity of high art.

The narrative structure itself is lyrical. It grounds the reader in the present day—following a modern Ukrainian as she takes shelter from an air raid—and then uses that present-day threat as a lens through which to view the long echo of the past. The war of 2022 is not treated as a rupture, but as the inevitable culmination of centuries of Russian imperial policy, cultural suppression, and political denial.

Naiem and the illustration team (Yulia Vus and Ivan Kypibida) masterfully weave together historical epochs. We move seamlessly from the destruction of the Cossack Sich in the 18th century to the prohibitions on the Ukrainian language, and from the engineered famine of the Holodomor to the poisoned politics of the post-Soviet era. There is no whitewashing here; the historical facts—including difficult internal complexities, like the actions of Bohdan Khmelnytsky—are presented with an unflinching but balanced sobriety.

This is where the format truly shines. Complex geopolitical dynamics and mass trauma—such as the systematic destruction of Ukrainian intellectual life during the "Executed Renaissance"—are translated into evocative, often emotionally charged visual spreads. The art becomes a universal language for the specifics of the Ukrainian struggle, turning dry footnotes of history into stark, memorable images of defiance and grief.

For many in the West, this book will be a necessary, if late, education. It effectively dismantles the pervasive myth of a shared, benevolent Soviet past and replaces it with the reality of continuous, deliberate imperial aggression. A Brief History of a Long War is a volume to be read not just for information, but for the profound authenticity of its perspective. It is a powerful testament that a nation's history, when told in its own voice and with its own colors, is the true frontline of its defense.

[Pete · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artwork is well done—I really like the use of frame-in-frame. The simple color palette (black and white plus orange) focused the storytelling and set the tone.

This book delivers on its title, packing a lot of backstory in relatively few pages. Flowing without chapter breaks, I had to take my own notes to keep up with the turning points through history.
The frame narrative followed a modern Ukrainian during an air raid. The author used “War for Dummies” excerpts to narrate much of this frame narrative.

There was a good bit of time spent on the Holodomor (Stalin's 1932–33 hunger genocide) to explain the past few generations of trauma.

Then we jump back in time to Prince Volodymyr Christianizing the Kievan Rus' in the late 10th century. (He joined the Orthodox Church to be able to marry the sister of the Byzantine emperor.) The Mongol invasion followed, then the Cossacks (which is still very powerful symbolically). After Catherine the Great, we learn about the linguicide of the 1860s. In the early 20th century, Polish independence threatened Russia, leading to a crackdown on outlying territories like Ukraine.

Next, we skip ahead to the 2004 Orange Revolution and the Dioxin poisoning of pro-European Ukrainian presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko, during whose administration there was formal recognition of the Holodomor. The next president, Viktor Yanukovych, was much more pro-Russian, and was ousted in the Euromaidan and the Revolution of Dignity in 2013–14. Leading into the current Russo-Ukrainian war since 2014, we read of Vladimir Putin's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.

This quick trip through history provides some more background to understand the hopes and fears of the Ukrainian people and the tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

**received early access via NetGalley from the publisher**

[Weronika · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely important book/visual history that contextualizes the current war within the long Ukrainian history. Since Western general knowledge about the history of the region was historically influenced through Soviet/Russian imperial propaganda (throughout the whole 20th century, i.e. by framing Kievan Rus as directly connected to Moscow), it is necessary to have authors, historians, and voices that present the Ukrainian narrative. This graphic novel fills a gap in reaching the general audience, including middle and high school students—in recent years, historians and scholars wrote academic books on the topic or gave lectures (i.e. Timothy Snyder's youtube series) but this is the first informative graphic novel I see and it has a potential to be accessible to wider audiences. Also, the text seems written in an objective manner, without whitewashing or propagandizing history — i.e. in the case of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, the text acknowledges both his leadership for the Cossack people and the crimes&murders he committed against the Jewish population.

The visual side is GORGEOUS, with beautiful illustrations in which medieval, twentieth-century, and today's history are masterfully interwoven. It's a pleasure to look at and it's engaging. The typography, however, could be a little better (but I might be biased, since I was given an e-ARC and read the comic on my screen; printed version might be more clear) — often the text is very small and crumpled or presented in blocks, which is both uncomfortable and contrasts with the creativity/presentation of illustrations.

I thank netgalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for an advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review!

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Ten Speed Graphics for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A Brief History of a Long War is a much-needed graphic history of Ukraine. Let’s face it, the western world only knows a portion of their history because of Russian/Soviet propaganda. I had a co-worker whose parents were Ukrainian immigrants to the United States and learned a little bit from her. Now, more than ever, people in the west should be learning this robust history.

This graphic history fills in all the missing pieces of Ukraine’s rich history, as well as how Russia has continuously offered aggression to try and take over the country. The lush illustrations are something to behold! There’s a lot of text, providing plenty of information as well as nuance of the troubles of Ukraine throughout the centuries. Basically, the Russians have been aggressive towards Ukraine for eons for strategic geographical reasons that appeals to the militaristic and oppressive way of the Russians. They have thought nothing about killing millions of Ukranians to get what they want. The particular font used for the text were sometimes hard to read, but as an e-ARC, I could just zoom in to follow the story.

I really don’t think this graphic history should be limited to just middle grade or young adults. I think grown-ups should be checking out this book, especially anyone who thinks Ukraine invaded Russia. Ever hear of propaganda? The Russians are experts at it. They have ALWAYS been the aggressor.

[Kuu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I really need to learn more about Ukrainian history, so this is a rating based solely on the information presented in this graphic novel, assuming that no relevant facts were added, left out, or altered. (Which, to be honest, is unlikely, as this graphic novel is of clear propagandistic nature, as well - which is not inherently a bad thing and fully understandable considering the ongoing invasion and war.)

This is a pretty accessible introduction to Ukrainian history and especially its history with the Russian Empire, introducing both the historical legacy of various groups of modern Ukraine (such as the Kyivan Rus, the Cossacks...), as well as events in recent history shaped both by these legacies and by Russian imperial policies. Each relevant period/event is given some pages and then contextualised in wider Ukrainian history and its effect today. I'd say this is a good introduction for someone not familiar with Ukrainian history, especially if they also are not the type to read a lot (or a lot of nonfiction, specifically), but it definitely lacks depth, which is understandable in this format.

[Janne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the use of orange in this book. I did not know a lot of the Ukrainian history, I knew it was past of the Sovjet Union one day, I knew about the annexation of Crimea, but only because it meant that Russia was excluded from the Eurovision Song Contest. I knew about MH017, because I’m Dutch and it had a big impact in my country. And of course I saw the devastating images of the recent war. It was good to read about all the other rebellions, too. Knowing how history got this point. On that note, I have to say that as someone who isn’t familiar with Eastern-European history that well, it could be hard to follow. There’s a lot of information thrown at you, and especially the old stuff felt like the information was put into a blender and spread out over the pages. I think I needed more context to get why the information was important, because everything was new to me.
I had different expectations of this book somehow, but learned a lot in a little more than 100 pages. If my history lessons would have looked like this, I would have more fun with it ;)

Thank you Netgalley and Ten Speed Press for providing the arc!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel centers around a modern day Ukrainian girl fleeing Russian bombs, leaving her apartment and going to a bomb shelter. This central story is surrounded by a dense and complex history of Ukraine, covering centuries of information. The author tries to share as much relevant information about the long history of Ukraine as they could into one graphic novel. It was overwhelming at times, but I learned a lot, and it provided a lot more context to recent events. As someone who is not familiar with Ukrainian history, the orange tones of the graphics became apparent as to the illustration choices. The graphics were easy to follow and helped add to the understanding of the complex history and text. There are citations afterward, which I always appreciate in non-fiction graphic novel stories. This is a good purchase anywhere non-fiction graphic novels circulate well and for students and staff who want to learn more about this complex history. Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for this ARC.

[Chrissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a welcome title, offering readers a concise and clear history of Ukraine and the Ukrainians struggle for freedom and independence. As an adult and having lived through some of what is depicted, I was still unclear on the chain of events that has led Ukraine to it's current state of war. The steps that brought us here are laid out well, highlighting big events, but emphasizing the long, drawn out changes over time. The framing story of people chatting in a bomb shelter brings immediacy to events. I think it would have been slightly less confusing to present the historical events in order, but I can see how the ancient history may have been a less interesting place to start. I did not feel like the art was used as well as it could have been to bring interest to events. In many places I could just read the text, and turn the page, as the illustration didn't really bring anything new or emotional to the story. However, this is a much needed and informative book that most libraries can use.

[Maťa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graficky spracovaná história vojny na Ukrajine. Aspoň to som si myslela predtým, než som tento grafický román otvorila. Že začne povedzme v 20. storočí a ukáže, čo sa tam deje v súčasnosti, ako konflikt vznikol a podobne.
Áno, aj nie, autorka totiž ide veľmi ďaleko do histórie a ukazuje aj časy Cyrila a Metoda, 16. storočie a iné. Chápem, že jej zámerom asi bolo ukázať, že to Ukrajina historicky nikdy nemala jednoduché, aj keď to pre mňa nebolo až tak zaujímavé, avšak hlavne to spravila chaotickým spôsobom.
Zo súčastnosti ideme do minulého storočia, potom do 9. storočia, 2004, 18 storočie... A medzitým sú stále útržky zo súčastnosti. Ja som typ čitateľa, čo má rád, keď sú mu informácie predostierané chronologicky, toto bol pre mňa chaos.
Ale bolo to napriek tomu zaujímavé.

Čo ale na knihe úplne milujem, sú ilustrácie, ktoré sú skutočne nádherné. Ilustrátori totiž používajú len čiernobiele odtiene a oranžovú. Po vizuálnej stránke je to naozaj vydarené.

[Serena]

I recieved an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
First of all there are tons of ukrainian reviewers on this book's page if you want to take a look at what they have to say!!

I got a lot out of this book, but kinda wish it was formatted differently. Reading from my phone, most pages had lots of very tiny dialogue and crammed imagery. If it was longer, it could maybe divide some of those pages into two or more and get more space both for the art and the text. It makes a good job of contextualizing the latest russian invasion of Ukraine in a centuries-spanning back and forth, but the way the info was arranged on page felt like a lot at once at times. I liked the bits of present-day Ukraine and the main character/author going to the bomb shelter, and I wish those sections were longer.

[Aapo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vaikuttava ja vaikuttavaksi tarkoitettu teos Ukrainan historiasta. Ei kuitenkaan liian raskaslukuinen, eli tekstin määrä on pidetty erittäin maltillisena ja visuaalinen ilme ilmavana. Aihe on tietenkin synkeä, mutta kirjaan on silti saatu ujutettua toiveikkuutta ja ylpeyttä vahvasta kansalaisyhteiskunnasta.

Tietenkään tätä ei voi lukea neutraalina historiakirjana (onko sellaista olemassakaan?). Hyvikset ja pahikset esitetään melko mustavalkoisesti ja esimerkiksi Ukrainan hallinnon korruptio-ongelmat sysätään Janukovytšin niskaan. Tietty yksinkertaistaminen on kai välttämätöntä, ettei sivumäärä kasva liian isoksi tai käsittely hajoa liian sekavaksi.

Mielenkiintoista on se, että Zelenskyin nimeä ei mainita kirjassa kertaakaan ja hän näkyy vain yhdessä kuvassa. Onko haluttu varmistaa, että kirja ei tee Zelenskyista sankarimyyttiä vai mikä lienee syy?

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

** read as an ARC via netgalley **

Overall I really appreciated this book. It is a very poignant read given the current state of affairs in the world. The information is largely presented in a way that is easily processed by the reader.

The illustrations gravely enhance the journey that is reading this graphic novel. The artistic styling lends well to the content ans topic of this book. The layout of the text over the artwork is also pleasant to read and does not take away from the reading experience.

The integration of historical context into the modern commentary of the main character's story was done well. At times the transitions were a bit clunky. But to have the modern and historical contexts were equally appreciated in creating a well rounded explanation of what has lead up to the current to life situation going on.

I would overall reccomend this book.

[Діана Головко · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ще одна книга, яку складно перегортати без сліз. У форматі мальопису вона дуже точно показує, якою важкою була і є доля України — і якою силою, гідністю та сміливістю відповідають люди на цю історію.
Маріам Наїєм робить надзвичайно важливу річ: відбирає головне, пояснює складне просто, надихає, не впадаючи в пафос. Це не повна історія у класичному сенсі, радше зрозумілий довідник війни й українського досвіду: нелінійний, концентрований, місцями дуже болісний. Формат коміксу тут ідеальний - він дозволяє швидко занурити читача в складний контекст і дати базове розуміння того, що з нами відбувається.
Як на мене, якщо доколупуватись, є дрібні технічні огріхи, які хочеться бачити виправленими в наступних виданнях, бо цю книжку справді хочеться дарувати - і в Україні, і за кордоном. Але це сильна і дуже потрібна робота.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Не те щоб історія (до того ж викладена нелінейно: ось Голодомор, а ось після нього Київська Русь — яка сама по собі настільки багата й велика тема, що й цих загальних 104 сторінок коміксу було б замало), радше словничок, дові��ник війни.
Дуже гарно намальовано — безліч влучних образів, які вже розлетілися на меми (і це круто!).
Гарно окантоване: головна героїня розповіді, Віка, прокидається о другій ночі від вибухів, йде спочатку в коридор, потім у сховище і дорогою з її думок і реплік оточуючих постають сторінки нашої неймовірно довгої, безкінечної боротьби за право жити, дихати, творити, любити. Ширити навколо себе життя, кольори, співи, а не культ мертвих.
Хороша книга, варто мати на полиці.